Homily #150227n (06min) Play – Father tells us that we have a “double duty” during Lent, doing penance for ourselves and for others. He tells us that many souls are damned because there was no one to pray and sacrifice for them, and because nobody corrected them when they were in error, in fact, there is often mutual bad example among Catholics which causes many souls to not even be faithful to the minimal obligations they have towards God and others. Let us this Lent be instruments of grace and conversion for others, and not instruments of perdition and sin.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday 1st Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: eze 18:21-28
Resp: psa 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Gsp: mat 5:20-26

Homily #150225n (04min) Play – Today the liturgy presents us with the conversion of Nineveh, and our Lord warns us that if we do not likewise repent, the Ninevites will rise up and condemn us since they heard and saw the “sign of Jonah” but we have heard and seen “One greater than Jonah.” Let us sincerely examine our conscience, have contrite hearts, and turn towards God.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Wednesday 1st Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: jon 3:1-10
Resp: psa 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gsp: luk 11:29-32

Homily #150220n (09min) Play – Father gives us some practical notes on fasting, abstinence, and penance for this Lent and for the whole year. He reminds us that as Christians, we are bound by God’s law to do penance, and that the Church gives us specific days of penance so that we may be formed in an authentic Christian spirit. Father comments on the laws of the Church about days of penance (some of which may surprise you), and gives us St. Francis de Sales teaching on fasting. Finally, Father comments on the obligation the Church imposes on us to do penance, that it binds under pain of sin, and that the reason for it is to form us into authentic Christians who take seriously today’s words: “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Ave Maria!
Mass: Friday after Ash Wednesday – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 58:1-9
Resp: psa 51:3-4, 5-6, 18-19
Gsp: mat 9:14-15

Homily #150219n (03min) Play – Father comments on the readings, and shows how the words of Our Lord in the Gospel complete those in the first reading. We are told that “Today I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.” Then Our Lord tells us, “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” That is, to have real live, eternal life, we have to be willing to die to the things of this world, “take up his cross daily,” and live to God. This is and this alone is the way to true life.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday after Ash Wednesday – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: deu 30:15-20
Resp: psa 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gsp: luk 9:22-25

Homily #150218n (06min) Play – Father comments on the practice of giving something up for Lent, and encourages us to do more than that. We should also do something positive, such as giving alms, picking a specific virtue to work on, or helping other grow closer to God. We ourselves also need to seek to grow closer to God through a more intense prayer life. The ashes we receive today are a sign of the penance and conversion of Lent, if we are not going to do penance, to “Repent and believe in the Gospel,” we should not receive ashes, they are there to remind us that without God, we’re nothing. Let us give ourselves to God more intensely this Lent!
Ave Maria!
Mass: Ash Wednesday – Wkdy – Form: OFReadings:
1st: joe 2:12-18
Resp: psa 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
2nd: 2co 5:20-6:2
Gsp: mat 6:1-6, 16-18

It is the spilled Blood of Christ that through the ages has inebriated souls to the point of martyrdom. One has to be enlivened and beyond one’s own possibilities to be a martyr. One has to be, in the mystical and profoundly spiritual sense, quite “drunk” with God. The martyrs were the outstanding inebriates, enlivened and exhilarated beyond their nature, their potential.

Nature claims fiercely to life. The spiritual inebriate runs singing to martyrdom. All the saints of God were inebriated by the Blood of Christ. And if we are to excel our own meager possibilities, we must also be made drunk with that most Precious Blood. It is the Blood of Christ alone that can enliven us to respond with service beyond ourselves, that can achieve the overextension of ourselves without harm and, in fact, with glory…we are enabled to do the impossible when we are inebriated with the blood of Christ.

Homily #150127m ( 12min) Play – In today’s homily Father Johannes talks about the characteristics that make up authentic charity; taken from the examples of the writings and lives of St. Angela Merici, Ven. Mary of Agreda and the teachings of Bl. John Duns Scotus on charity.
Mass: St. Angela Merici – Opt Mem – Form: OFReadings:

Homily #150111n (22min) Play – Father Matthias comments on the effects of Baptism, the three types of baptism, and the necessity of Baptism. He comments on the Baltimore Catechism (Volume three) and final gives us a spiritual aspect of Baptism and the best way to live out our baptism.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Baptism of the Lord – Feast – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 42:1-4, 6-7
Resp: psa 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
2nd: act 10:34-38
Gsp: mar 1:7-11

Homily #150104n (13min) Play – Father Maximilian comments on the events commemorated on Epiphany, and tells us that we can bring the gold of our obedience, the incense of our adoration to God, and the myrrh of our sacrifices, and the wedding of Cana shows us the best way to do this, by entrusting ourselves to Our Lady, and listening to Her when She: “Do whatever He tells you.”
Ave Maria!
Mass: Epiphany of the Lord – Solemnity – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 60:1-6
Resp: psa 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
2nd: eph 3:2-3, 5-6
Gsp: mat 2:1-12

Homily #141224n (10min) Play – Father asks us whether we believe what we are celebrating, or is Christmas becoming a fairy-tale to us like it is to many, even many professing Christians. If we believe, that faith should move us towards love, but we see many who live as if Christ had not come. He comes to seek our hearts, but many hearts are closed to Him since, like the inns of Bethlehem, they are too full. Are we hoping He skips our door? Will we prefer our attachments to created things to Him? When we celebrate Christmas, will we be telling Our Lord that, though we appreciate Him, there is no room in the inn of our hearts? Or will we be willing to let go of the things which fill our hearts, and have a truly Merry Christmas this year?
Ave Maria!
Mass: Nativity of the Lord (Midnight) – Solemnity – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 9:1-6
Resp: psa 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13
2nd: tit 2:11-14
Gsp: luk 2:1-14

Homily #141221n (12min) Play – Father Maximilian comment on the re-occurrence of the Gospel reading of the Annunciation within a few days, and tells us it is the Church’s invitation to contemplate the Annunciation again and again. Father then walks us through the account and encourages us to say the Angelus everyday at morning, noon, and evening, so that this mystery is brought to our minds time and time again throughout the day, every day.
Ave Maria!
Mass: 4th Sunday of Advent – Solemnity – Form: OFReadings:
1st: 2sa 7:1-5, 8-11, 16
Resp: psa 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
2nd: rom 16:25-27
Gsp: luk 1:26-38

Homily #141222n (04min) Play – Father comments on the entrance antiphon: “O Gates, lift high your heads.” He tells us these “gates” can symbolize two very different things. The first is our predominant fault, that which keeps out Our Lord, and although He wants to enter into our lives and very selves, we have the key to this gate. However, if we but turn the key (be willing to open up to Him) then He will open the gates which are rusted shut (that is, beyond our power to overcome) by the outpouring of His Grace. Secondly, these gates refer to the Virginal Conception and Birth of Our Lord. Let us turn to Our Lady, who is the “aqueduct” of grace, She is not in the way, but is the way, and will “Prepare the way of the Lord” in our own hearts.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 22 – Form: OFReadings:
1st: 1sa 1:24-28
Resp: 1sa 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8
Gsp: luk 1:46-56

Homily #141220n (06min) Play – In the immediate preparation for Christmas, the liturgy presents us with the prophecy of the Virginal Birth of the Messiah as well as its fulfillment at the Annunciation. Father walks us through the Gospel passage, and encourages us to reflect on this passage and imitate Our Lady’s faith and obedience to the will of God. By doing this, we will successfully prepare for the Lord’s coming at Christmas and at the end of time.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 20 – Form: OFReadings:
1st: isa 7:10-14
Resp: psa 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gsp: luk 1:26-38

Homily #141218n (05min) Play – Father tells us that the Gospel passage for December 18th emphasizes Our Lady’s Virginity, which testifies to the Divinity of Her Son, and he shows how this Gospel speaks of the two virtues of humility and purity. By the former we rely completely on Him and not on ourselves, and by the latter, we are enabled to give ourselves entirely to God.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Weekdays of Advent – Dec 18 – Form: OFReadings:
1st: jer 23:5-8
Resp: psa 72:1, 12-13, 18-19
Gsp: mat 1:18-24